Locomotive ballast-crushing machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-flhet 1.

I A. B. AUSTIN. LOGOMOTIVE BALLAST GRUSHING MACHINE. No. 253.492; Patented Feb. 14,1882;

N4 FUERs Pholo-Ulhognpher, Wishinglon. D C

(No Model.) 2 SheetS- -Sheet 2.

A. B. AUSTIN. LOGOMOTIVE BALLAST CR'USHING MAGHINE.

110.253.492. Patented Feb. 14,1882

k 9 ZR h k m 31 L n c1 P i 19% g E I. 5%

L g zzvezzfogl' N. PETERS, Pbnm-Likhagraphar. Walhlnglnn. n. c.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OF ICE.

ARONAMOUS B. AUSTIN, OFFORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

LOCOMOTIVE BALLAST-CRUSHING MACHINE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,492, dated February 14, 1882.

Application filed March 1, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARONAMOUS B. AUSTIN, of Fort Wayne, Allen county, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Ballast-Crushing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines which possess such a combination of parts as enables them to not only crush and deliver the ballast required, but also to'furnish a means of self-propulsion, facilitating thereby their easy transportation from place to place, the objects of my invention being to provide a machine which, possessing said power of self-propulsion, is so constructed that the propelling mechanism can be applied to executing the work of. the machine in crushing rock or other suitable material, either for ballast on a railroad, macadam on an ordinary roadway, or for any other required purpose at'any point that the material may be needed, its principal advantages being that the material is crushed to a more uniform size and in a more expeditious manner than by hand, and its means of self-propulsion, enabling it to be moved to any point, again cheapens the cost of the prepared material, in saving frequent handling, by the same being loaded andunloadcd in cars,wagons, 85c. r

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig.2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of a part of the machine, showing thecrushing mechanism, the device for immediately propelling the machine while.

crushing, and also the peculiar method of forming the bearings for the axles. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the center of the crusher, showingthe pitmen for operating the crusher-jaw and the connections of the same. Fig. 5 is an interior elevation of the drivingwheel or driver, showing the connections of the same with the lever provided for raising and depressing it, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the lever and connections attached to one of the axles and used-for immediately propelling the machine while crushing. Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the hand-wheel and connections for operating the lever used to raise the driving-wheel.

The boiler A is provided with steam-gage,

gage-cocks, safety-valve, and whistle, as fully shown in the drawings, is preferably made, as shown, of an upright form to save room, and is attached securely to the frame-work of the machine in any approved manner. In the present instance the boiler is connected to a wrought-iron ring, Z, by means of hangers bolted to the boiler and said ring. This ring is bolted to the beams P, and is also bolted to the partition-plate o and to the center beam, Z extending from the boiler to the rear end of the main frame and to the crossbeams Z which latter are secured at either end to the beam P, having the ash-pan A projecting below the frame. The partition 0 extends from the ring Z, as described,to the cross-plate Z at the end of the machine, and is bolted to said cross-plate, the latter being bolted to the ends of the beams P P.

The engines B B are secured to the frame, and are connected with the boiler in the usual manner, being provided with steam and exhaust pipes, the supply of steam being regulated by the valve 1) and governor I), driven by the belt and pulley D The direction of the movement of the engines is regulated by the reversing-lever G, constructed in the usual manner, and connecting with the usual locomotive link-motion for operating the slidevalve. The engines are connected with the driving-wheels D D by usually-constructed connecting-rods and crank-wrists, as fully shown in drawings. The water-tank and fuelbox E is builton and secured to the same frame as the working parts of the machine, is constructed in the usual manner, and is connected by the pipe c with the supply-pump F, which in turn is connected with the boiler in the usual manner, and is operated by its plungerrod being attached to the cross-head of the engine B. The driving-wheels D D are preferably of the class known as blind drivers, each having a broad smooth face without any flanges. The axle S of the same is journaled in boxes constructed as shown at G in Figs. 3 and 5. The boxes are connected by the pitmen g g to their respective levers H H, preferably as follows: The lower end of pitman g is attached to a cross-bar or cross-head, within a strap, 9 and bolted to the latter. Below cross-bar g, and within the strap, are the brass boxes 9 one above and the other below the axle S, and encircling the latter. These boxes are held in position preferably as follows,viz: Flanges on the inner sides of the strap enter recesses in the boxes, the boxes sliding up and down on said flanges. The provision for tightening the boxes against the axle consists ofa wedgeshaped key, introduced between the crossbar g and the upper brass box, 9 and fitting into recesses in said crossbar and box, and further held in position by the setscrew 9 screwed through one side of the cross-bar g. The strap g slides in the guideways Z, and

all lateral motion of it is prevented by the setscrews 9 located, as shown, in one side of one of the guideways. The levers H H are fulcrumed, as shown in Fig. 5, by the bolt it passing through the end of the same, also through the upper spring, 7L2, the frame-work of the machine, and the lower spring, 719, the levers being operated by the hand-wheels I I, connected with each other by the shaft 1, to which are firmly fastened the pinions 1 1 working in the racks 1 1 The racks I 1 are provided with slots i t, in which the shaft I slides, to allow of the elevation and depression of the axle S. The sides of the rectangular frame and partition-plate 0 are cut away above and below the said axle. The levers H H are slotted, as shown at h h, and by this means are fitted over the shaft 1. The pawls i i work loosely on the shaft 1 and catch into the racks 1 1 They are connected one with the other by the rod The supporting rectangular box or frame K of the crusher proper is made of rolled iron, fastened in a substantial manner to the frame-work of the machine,and strengthened still further by the braces 70 k k 70 The friction-pulleys L L, balance-wheels M M, and pitmen N N are all fitted to the shaft 0, this shaft 0 being supported by the standards 0 0, fastened to thelongitudinal beams P P of the frame-work, and also by the partitionplate 0, secured to the main frame-work of the machine, these supports being furnished with suitable boxes, W, in which the shaft 0 is journaled. The shaft 0 is bent sufficiently at the points where the pitmen N N connect with it to give them the required eccentricity of motion to operate the jaws of the erushers. The pitmen are fitted to the shaft with boxcs,-as fully shown in Fig. 4, andare recessed at n 'n n n to receive the ends of the toggles Q Q Q Q, the opposite ends of the toggles Q Q fitting into similar recesses in the wedges R It, and those of Q Q similarly into the movable jaws T T of the crusher. These movablejaws T T are hung loosely on the rod t, which passes through the sides of the box K, and is secured by nuts t t. Additional strength is secured by the straps t t surrounding the ends of the rod 15, and extending thence to the rod 15 which is immediately back of the end of the frame K. This rod passes through the straps 15 t and is secured by the nuts at each end. The object of this arrangement is to transfer a part of the strain caused by the working of the jaws T T from the sides of the frame K to the end of the same, when it is taken up, partly by the resistance of the cast plates U U and partly by the braces K K. The toothed plates T T are secured to the jaws T T by the bolts T T and are corrugated or toothed to facilitate the operation of crushing. These jaws T T are connected near their bottom with the rods T T, running through the brackets T 1 and springs T 'T, the amount of resistance to the working of thejaws being regulated by the nuts T T. The stationary jaws U U have surfaces similar to those of the movable jaws T T. They are set in the box K against the castings U U, which are cast into the frame K K, and furnish an additional means of support to thejaws U U, in addition to furnishing a counter-strain on the action of thejaws T T by means of the rod t and straps t t as has been heretofore described. The wedges R It are separated from the wedges It R by those lettered R R theshape and construction being fully shown in Fig.3. The rear end'of each strap 1 is connected to its respective wedge R, and the forward end of each of these straps is supported by a'cross-beam, r extending from one side of the rectangular frame to the other side and secured to the frame. strap 1" permits the wedges R to move in the direction of the length of the machine, either forward or backward, according as the wedges R are raised or lowered.' The wedges R R are suspended from the straps 1' a" by means of the rods 1' 1" and nuts r W.

There is connected with the lower end of each of the pitmen N N a lever, V, by means of bolt and nut 'u,this bolt being made with an eye, so as to permit the lever to work freely. The levers V pass from the pitmen to the axle V under the forward end of the rectangular frame K. These levers work loosely around the axle V, and are each provided with a double pawl, e, pivoted at 0 and connected by the pitmen e and rod a with the lever V The pawl o is made to fit into the teeth of the wheel V which is keyed fast to the axle V. The axles V V V are journaled in boxes, as shown in Fig. 3,- the boxes being constructed with atop piece, X, the boxes and axles being suspended from the frame of the machine by the boltsY Y, passing through the beam P and the rubber springs Y Y and the straps X X The. strap X passes under the bottom of the boxes from one spring Y to the other'springY, and at its center is the set-screw a; for holding the collar X up against the axle, the strap X passing up over the top X from one spring to This arrangement of the the other. The main frame P rests onpthe springs Y Y.

The mode of operating my invention is as follows: The requisite pressure of steam having been obtained and the drivers D D having been lowered to the rails by the levers H H and their operating mechanism, the steam is admitted to the cylinders B B by means of the valve 1), and the machine is propelled to the place of work, its motion being controlled by the valve b andreversing-lever O. The drivers D D, when resting on the rails, do not bear against the friction-pulleys L L, the shaft 0 is at rest, and the. governor b being driven by the belt b from the pulley b on the shaft 0, is also at rest, the balls being at their lowest point and the governor-valve wide open, allowing the steam to pass to the cylinders only as controlled by the operation of the valve 1).

When it is desired to begin the operation of crushing, the drivers DD are raised up against the friction-pulleys L L by means of the levers H H, operated by the hand-wheels I I and pinions 1 lflworkin g with the racks 1 1 the levers H H being secured from slipping and allowing the drivers to fall by throwing the pawls i 11 into the teeth of the racks I 1 The drivers having been brought up against the frictionpnlleys LL, as described, motion is imparted to the same, and the shaft 0, rotating, causes the pitmen N N to alternately rise and fall. Each upward stroke of either pitman causes the crushing mechanism with which it is connected to operate. The toggle Q, pressing firmly against the wedge R, tends to throw the lower end of the pitman N slightly forward, at the same time resisting any thrust in the opposite direction. The toggle Q, being forced forward by the combined downward movement of the pitman N and the resistance of the toggle Q,forces the jawTforeibly toward the stationary jaw U, forcibly compressing any material which may be between the said jaws. The pitman N beginning to rise again, the spring T which has been compressed bythe above operation, reacts and causes the rod T to pull back the jaw T, allowing the crushed material to drop down through the opening between the lower ends of the jaws and fresh material to take its place. The pitmen NN working alternately, the full power of the machine is exerted on one set of jaws at one time, the advantages of two pitmen and two sets of jaws being a more frequent repetition of the crushing by one set working while the other is making the return or upward stroke, the relative positions of the pitmen being such that the least force is required on the one while the other is doing the work required, the minimum and maximum forces alternating as the two pitmen alternately rise and fall. The governor b being operated from the shaft 0, it consequently becomes active during the operation and controls the supply of steam.

When desired to propel the machine during the operation of crushing, the double pawls a (11 are thrown around by means of the levers V V operating the rods 274 v and pitmen a '0 so that the motion imparted to the leversVV by the pit-men N N causes one of the teeth of each pawl to fall relatively into one of the toothed wheelsV V and by pulling against the same causes the axle V to revolve, the pawl escaping or relieving itself at each opposite motion of the pitman controlling the lever with which it is connected. As the pitmen N N control this mode of propulsion, it is alternative, the same as the crushing operation, one lever and pawl turning the axle while the other lever is making the opposite stroke, and connecting pawl .consequentlyescaping in order -toengage the next tooth of its oonn'ecting-wheeL, The direction of this movement of this mea s'of propulsion is regulated by the throw of thelevers V V causing either the upper or lower set of teeth of the pawls a 'v" to fall into the proper position to engage the teeth of the wheels 12 v. If preferred, only one pitman may be used in this means of propulsion by merely throwing the lever controlling the operating mechanism connected with it into position, so that its operating mechanism will operate one toothed wheel V and leverVand double pawl v and their connecting mechanism may be dispensed with, and the other lever V and its operating mechanism will continue at the will of the engineer to propel the machine.

The distance between the jaws T T and U U, and consequently the size of the crushed material, is regulated by raising or lowering the wedges R R by means of the rod 1" and nut r this operation causing the wedges R R to be pushed forward by the raisin g of the wedges R R or to be pushed back by the wedges R B being dropped, thus bringing the weight of the moving parts of the crushing mechanism to bearon said wedges R R and forcing the same back until stopped by the wedges R R What 1 claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, substantially as described, of the drivers D D, provided with sliding boxes and levers H H, and connecting mechanism for enabling the power used tor propelling the machine to be transferred to the crushing mechanism without any stoppage. of

the engines, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a supporting-vehicle, ane'ngine, and a ballast-crushing mechanism, the friction-pulleyL and the friction-driver D, and connecting mechanism for enabling the driver D to be shifted so as to be brought against the friction-pulley L or the track or ground, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with a supporting-frame, an engine, a ballast-crushing mechanism, the friction-pulley L, and friction-driver D, and lever V, axle V, toothed wheel V double pawl v, lever V and supporting and operating mechanism, substantially as and for the purtion-pulley L, substantially as and for the pur-,

poses specified.

6. The combination of the lever V, toothed whrels V double pawls o, levers V and conneeting mechanism, as herein described, and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination of theleversVV, toothed wheels o double pawl 41, lever V pitman N, and pivot and nut connections 1), substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. The sliding box G, composed of the crosshead 9, straps 9 boxes g 9 key 9 and setscrews g and set-screw g, combined and operating as herein described.

ARONAMOUS 13. AUSTIN.

Witnesses:

JOHN .J MOLLOY, E. It. HILL. 

